Home Sports Basketball Illinois Falls To Rutgers, Faces Michigan in Big 10 Tourney

Illinois Falls To Rutgers, Faces Michigan in Big 10 Tourney

Published on March 6 2017 7:18 am
Last Updated on March 6 2017 7:19 am
Written by Millie Lange

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -- Malcolm Hill and Maverick Morgan each scored 16 for the Illini Saturday afternoon in Piscataway. But Rutgers' DeShawn Freeman hit a 3-pointer with seven seconds left to lead Rutgers past Illinois 62-59.

Freeman hit the game-winner from the wing, before flinging Tracy Abram's missed 3-point attempt into the student section.

Illinois led 44-34 after Michael Finke made a 3-pointer with 14:44 to go but Rutgers (14-17, 3-15 Big Ten) rallied, taking a 55-54 lead with five minutes remaining after Corey Sanders scored six straight points.

The Illini ended the regular season winning four out of five and awaits their Thursday opponent in the Big Ten Tournament in Washington D.C.

The bracket is set for the 2017 Big Ten Tournament. The 20th annual event will be contested March 8-12 at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

The Fighting Illini (18-13, 8-10) are the No. 9 seed and will face No. 8 seed Michigan (20-11, 10-8) in the second round on Thursday, March 9, at Noon ET/11 am CT on BTN. The winner of the game will move on to face No. 1 seed Purdue (25-6, 14-4) on Friday, March 10, at noon ET/11 am CT.

Illinois and Michigan split the regular season series, with each team winning on its home court. The Illini won 85-69 in Champaign on Jan. 11, then the Wolverines returned the favor Jan. 21 in Ann Arbor, 66-57.

Big Ten Tournament

Wednesday, March 8

Game 1 -- Penn State vs. Nebraska, 3:30 p.m.

Game 2 -- Rutgers vs. Ohio State, 6 p.m.

Thursday, March 9

Game 3 -- Illinois vs. Michigan, 11 a.m.

Game 4 -- Winner Game 1 vs. Michigan State, 1:30 p.m.

Game 5 -- Indiana vs. Iowa, 6:30 p.m.

Game 6 -- Winner Game 2 vs. Northwestern, 8 p.m.

Friday, March 10

Game 7 -- Winner Game 3 vs. Purdue, 11 a.m.

Game 8 -- Winne Game 4 vs. Minnesota, 12:30 p.m.